US Space Force increases efforts to plug training capabilities gaps
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
Thales has announced that it has been awarded a prime contract by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide public safety and tactical communications products under its new Tactical Communications (TacCom) programme. The company made the announcement 19 June, 2012.
The multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) programme will see DHS procure vital tactical radio equipment and other products and services. According to Thales, the agency will use the equipment to support reliable and interoperable public safety communications for its missions to keep the homeland safe, including border protection, customs enforcement, drug interdiction, and emergency response to natural and man-made disasters.
In addition to DHS, other federal agencies, including the Departments of Interior, State, and Justice, and the White House Communications Agency, can use the TacCom IDIQ contract vehicle to acquire the multiband radios they need to perform their missions. The two-year programme has three option years and a potential ceiling value of $3 billion for all awardees.
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The service has been conducting several acquisition and upgrading efforts involving artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve communication, data analysis and ISR systems.
The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, was launched last year, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces. Thales has now been selected to provide terminals for vehicles.
The growing importance of space in modern warfare, advancements in satellite technology, and increasing threats from rivals like China and Russia were among the topics of a Eurosatory 2024 panel on military space operations.
AN/ARC-232A is a Starfire radio that provides VHF/UHF communications to airborne platforms and the transceiver is software-programmable, allowing for multiple waveform support as well as optional national electronic counter counter-measure (ECCM) capability.
During the 18-month period of the contract, Lockheed Martin will apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to create surrogate models of aircraft, sensors, electronic warfare and weapons within dynamic and operationally representative environments.